|
Gentleman's Magazine 1849 part 2 p.250
[Philip]sons lay the lands of Thomas Laybourne of Cunswick
Hall, a descendant from that bold baron who for his
uncompromising spirit is described with such raciness in the
old Norman poem of the Siege of Caerlaverock as "a valiant
man, without but and without if, sans mes et
sans si."
In the annals of the Philipsons it is recorded that an
agreement, subsequently confirmed by a deed, bearing date
A.D. 1480, was entered into between the principal men of
these two families, to the effect that Edmund Philipson
should marry Janet the daughter of the said Thomas
Laybourne, and if Edmund should die before such event then
that she should be given in marriage to his brother. As this
union with Edmund does not appear to have taken place, he
must have died before its celebration, whereupon Robert
became her husband.
These are the persons to whom the inscription remaining in
the hall window refers, and it is probable that on the
occasion of their marriage the hall at Calgarth was built -
though the existing enrichments of the interior may on
various grounds be considered the productions of a later
period, and the family then settled there, as in the early
part of Henry the Eighth's reign they are styled "of
Calgarth." Previous to the time of this last named
sovereign, it was the practice of the monasteries and abbeys
throughout England to have all considerable donations
secured and confirmed to them, by every descent, from the
first donor or benefactor; and hence it is accounted for
that there are found in some of the chartularies and lieger
books of the old religious houses the regular pedigrees of
every family of any note or consequence up to the period of
the dissolution of such institutions. From the records of
the religious communities it was that the distinguished
genealogist and herald, Sir William Dugdale subsequently
laid the foundation of his great work on the Baronage of
England.
When after the Reformation such monastic records were
discontinued, it became the duty of the heralds to
perambulate the several counties at certain intervals, when
they received and examined the pedigrees of the several
families, approved the genuine, rejected the spurious, and
respited the doubtful for further consideration, blazoned
the arms, and granted new bearings to new families, or new
marks of distinction to different branches of the same
family. The last visitation for these purposes, in
Westmerland and Cumberland, was made in the years 1664 and
1665, by the accomplished herald I have named, who was the
particular friend of that Mr. Machel whose genealogical
collections towards a history of Westmerland were enriched
in no small degree by his intimacy and correspondence with
Sir William.
Dr. Burn (who subsequently was extensively indebted to Mr.
Machel's labours), for the information of individuals
curious in the minute circumstances of the lives of those
who long ago formed the important body of the ancient gentry
of England, has in the pedigree given of the Philipsons
preserved, among other particulars relating to them, the
form by which in Queen Elizabeth's time the herald confirmed
the arms of De Thirlwall to Rowland Philipson of Calgarth,
and granted him a crest to the same; and in this age, when a
critical study of heraldry, once stigmatised as "the science
of fools with long memories," though as has been justly said
"it should rather be designated as a science which, if
properly directed, would make fools wise," is reviving
throughout England, it perhaps may have interest if here
inserted.
"To all and singular, as well nobles, gentles, as others, to
whom these presents come, to be seen, heard, read, or
understood, Robert Cooke esquire, Clarencieulx King of Arms
of the East, West, and South parts of this realm of England,
sendeth greetings. For as much as Rowland Philipson, alias,
Therlwall, of Calgarth, in the co. of Westmerland, and Miles
Philipson, alias Therlwall, of Thwatterden Hall, in the co.
aforesaid, brothers, sons to Christopher Therlwall of
Thwatterden Hall aforesaid, which Rowland was descended of a
younger brother forth of the house of Thirlwall, in the co.
of Northumberland, which said Rowland, by reason of the
Christian name of one of his ancestors was called Philip,
the younger son of the said Philip was called Philipson, and
so continueth the same surname, which Rowland their ancestor
|